The Seattle Seahawks will be without Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Browner the rest of the regular season.After Browner decided to drop his appeal of a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the NFL responded by suspending him immediately.

Browner, however, will be eligible to return for the playoffs, should the Seahawks advance to the postseason. The Seahawks are 7-5 and enter Week 14 in sole possession of the NFC's second wild-card berth.

Seahawks starting corner Richard Sherman, who reportedly tested positive for a banned substance along with Browner, faces an appeal hearing. With Sherman still eligible to play, the team must replace one starter for now.

Browner and Sherman tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Browner is the fourth Seahawks player to be suspended for a drug violation in the past calendar year, joining John Moffitt, Allen Barbre and Winston Guy.

Walter Thurmond, who was a starter for a short time during the 2011 season before a leg injury, will take Browner's spot.

"I've thought all along that we are very fortunate to have Walter with some background that has started for us in the past," coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday. "He's an excellent athlete. He played very well for us this last week and he'll step right up into that mode."

The Seahawks' effort to retain the playoff spot is helped by a favorable schedule, which includes home games against NFC West opponents, starting Dec. 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. They face the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 23 and the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 30. The Seahawks are 5-0 at home.

The only road game is Dec. 16 against the 5-7 Buffalo Bills in Toronto.